TOY SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 8

TOY SHORTAGE

RESULT OF CONTROL FOREIGN GOODS BANNED BLEAK CHRISTMAS AHEAD SEARCH FOR SUBSTITUTES Father Christmas will bo allowed to make only a very brief call on New Zealand this year, for import control lias served him with a notice that is almost equivalent to "Keep out. This means you." As a result, there is certain to bo bitter complaining among boys and girls when the season of toys comes round. In tho schedule of restrictions for tho second half of this year, fancy' goods and toys from Great Britain are cut by 50 per cent, those from Canada and Australia by 80 per cent, and foreign goods are excluded altogether. ' Two important sources having been cut off, importers will no doubt make the best use they can of the United Kingdom quota, but unfortunately the range of toys produced in Britain does not cover the whole field. In cheap goods, tho trade is almost monopolised by Germany and Japan. Business Highly Seasonal Tho toj r business is highly seasonal, and Christmas stocks, which usually arrive in August and September, aro ordered on a basis which leaves very little surplus when tho yearly demand is over. One wholesaler said yesterday that a residue of 10 per cent would bo regarded as large. Auckland warehouses are carrying very few toys at present, and what they have is being rapidly bought up by retailers, who are looking everywhere for supplies. One large establishment is already rationing its stocks. Another consideration which may tend to reduce imports even below the schedule level is that toys are grouped for tariff" purposes with fancy goods, a term which applies to a huge range of articles, some of them virtual necessities. Some houses which deal in both toys and fancy goods are contemplating cutting out some toy orders altogether and using the quota for other goods more urgently in demand. "What is the use of sending a paltry 20 per cent order to Canada?" asked ono of them yesterday. Search lor Substitutes In the hope of lessening the shortage, some houses have been making inquiries about local manufacture, but this appears to be confined in the main to the heavier wooden toys, such as rocking-horses, push-carts and dolls' perambulators. Australia has developed a business in pedal motor-cars and the like, and, according to rumour, the restriction on these is being eased to some extent. However, ordinary inexpensive toys are likely to be in very short supply. It has been suggested that children's books, which are allowed free entry, will largely take tho place of toys this Christmas. However, this cannot meet the need of very small children, and older boys and girls may not be entirely satisfied with the substitution. Probably many parents will be obliged to rack their brains in search of suitable gifts from among things not officially classed as toys. Tho restrictions are likely to affect employment. One Auckland concern has already dismissed five employees who were handling toys, and another expects to reduce its staff in the near future.